View of Amsterdam from the Kadijk c. 1641

Rembrandt van Rijn's etching, 'View of Amsterdam from the Kadijk,' presents a horizon punctuated by windmills and church spires, symbols deeply embedded in the Dutch psyche. The windmill, more than a mere functional structure, represented Dutch ingenuity and the ongoing battle against the sea, a struggle deeply woven into the national identity. Similarly, the church spire, while a testament to faith, also signified the communal spirit and the steadfastness of the city's inhabitants. Consider the windmill—its earlier iterations were often associated with pagan rituals, harnessing the power of the wind as a divine force. Over time, it was repurposed, transformed into a symbol of industry and prosperity. This evolution reflects our collective need to adapt symbols to serve our present needs, revealing how deeply ingrained images persist, shape-shifting to mirror our evolving world. It is through such images that a city imprints itself on our collective memory.